History: London's Population Part 1

Ref: C2419862

London has been shaped by waves of immigration since the Romans founded it after they invaded 2,000 years ago. Anglo Saxons and the Vikings developed its character. Why did William the Conqueror build the Tower of London with imported Caen stone? If medieval London was famous for its holiness and number of churches, how did it also get the sinful reputation the monk Richard of Devizes warns of? “Each race brings its own vices and its own customs to the city. No one lives in it without falling into some sort of crime. The greater a rascal a man is, the better a man he is accounted.” How did it shift to becoming a major European capital and trading centre in the Tudor period? We will examine the city’s development with slides and group discussions. The discussion will continue in a companion course that looks at the city from the 18th century until the present day.

Course aim

To understand how London's population formed through waves of immigration from the countryside and overseas from its founding to the seventeenth century.

Do I need any particular skills or experience?

No skills or experience needed

By the end of the course I should be able to:

Appreciate the antiquity of London, and the varied influences that shaped the city

Explain how historical facts and myths become confused

Understand how historical events shaped the city's population

How will I be taught?

The WEA tutor will use a range of different teaching and learning methods and encourage you and the group to be actively involved in your learning

What kind of feedback can I expect?

A range of informal activities will be used by the tutor to see what you are learning which may include quizzes, question and answer, small projects and discussion

You will be encouraged to share your work with the group and discuss your learning

What else do I need to know?

It is useful to be able to take notes.

Pre-course work, reading and information sources

No pre reading is required but you may find it useful to look at relevant books, such as Peter Ackroyd's London, the Biography or Stephen Inwood's A History of London

As a registered charity, and to meet our funders’ requirements, we need to check a few things with you before you book. Please could we ask that you check the list below to ensure you meet our basic criteria:

You are paying the standard fee (with a credit or debit card) or you are on any of the qualifying benefits

You have a valid email address so that you can receive confirmation of your booking